Sisters reported 'missing' back home, ran away after fight over dog

Updated 11:11 am, Thursday, July 11, 2013

Police are searching for sisters Carmen Cotto, 16, and Angelica Cotto, 14, of Bridgeport, who were reported missing in Fairfield on Tuesday night. They are shown in this video surveillance image from the Marshall's store on the Post Road, where they were last seen, according to police.
Photo: Fairfield Police Department

The girls ran away after a dispute with their parents over a pet dog, police said.

Carmen Cotto, 16, and Angelica Cotto, 14, were found back at their East Avenue home in Bridgeport on Wednesday by Bridgeport officers, after an hours-long search launched when their mother reported them missing to Fairfield police on Tuesday night,

The teens' father "gave the dog away because they weren't taking care of it, and they weren't coming home till they got it back," police Sgt. Sue Lussier said Thursday.

Reports initially indicated the sisters were last seen about 9 p.m. Tuesday in Fairfield near the Marshall's clothing store on the Post Road, where they had been dropped off by their father to meet with their mother, who is a store employee. But a later report from police indicated the sisters were last seen about 10:30 p.m. in Bridgeport, near the intersection of State Street and Fairfield Avenue. They were also believed to have taken a train to Waterbury during the time that they were reported missing.

Police said Wednesday afternoon that the girls had contacted their parents, but at that point were refusing to disclose their whereabouts or return home until the disagreement over the dog was resolved.